“I can see now,” panted Roy, as he looked over the tree-like sweep, “where experience comes in.”
CHAPTER VIII
COUNT ZEPT MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN AT THE LANDING
At the noon meal, Count Zept reported that Athabasca Landing was certainly a live town. He explained that he had met the most important man in town, the sergeant of the mounted police, and that he had been introduced to many of the influential merchants. He had examined the store of the Revillon Freres and was somewhat disappointed in his inability to secure a black fox skin which he had promised to send to his sister.
The Revillon Freres being the well-known rival of the Hudson’s Bay Company, young Zept in his disappointment had also gone to the Hudson’s Bay store, but there he had been equally unsuccessful, although at both places he saw plenty of baled skins. Colonel Howell laughed.
“My dear boy,” he explained, “furs do not go looking for buyers in this part of the world. Inexperienced travelers seem to have the idea that Indians stand around on the corners waiting to sell fox skins. Skins are getting to be too rare for that now and, believe me, the fur companies get their eye on them before the traveler can. And the companies pay all they’re worth.”
“Anyway,” remarked the Count, “I can get a small eighteen-foot canoe for a hundred and twenty-five dollars. Don’t you think I’d better buy one? The H. B. Company has some fine ones—the kind the mounted police use. I was looking for a bark one.”
Even the boys smiled at this and Colonel Howell laughed again.